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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada is Canada’s largest Lutheran denomination with 182,077 baptized members in 624 congregations. It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation, the Canadian Council of Churches, and the World Council of Churches.

Material provided through ELCIC Information is intended for reproduction and redistribution by recipients in whatever manner they may find useful.

Winnipeg, October 13, 2005 (ELCIC)-- On Wednesday, October 12, Global Hunger and Development Appeal (GHDA), of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), announced that it would be accepting donations to support relief efforts after an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale hit parts of the south Asian subcontinent on Saturday morning, October 8. The following is meant to provide clarification on the Government of Canada's announcement of the establishment of a fund to match all public donations earmarked for earthquake relief.

The following statement was issued on the website for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) on Wednesday, October 12:

South Asia Earthquake Matching Fund

In order to harness the generosity of individual Canadians responding to the October 8, 2005 earthquake in South Asia, the Government of Canada has instituted a matching fund program to support relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction in the devastated area.Creation of the government fund to match public donations was announced on October 11, 2005 by Prime Minister Paul Martin and International Cooperation Minister Aileen Carroll.

Under this program, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will create an Earthquake Response Fund equivalent to the monetary donations made by individual Canadians to registered Canadian charitable organizations between October 8 and October 26, 2005. To be eligible for matching, the donations to these charities must be specifically earmarked for South Asia earthquake response. [Ed. Note: The cheques must be dated between October 8 and October 26, 2005.]

The funds generated by matching will be made available to support qualified relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction proposals submitted to CIDA by Canadian non-governmental organizations.

The matching system will allow the Government of Canada, in conjunction with authorities in the affected area, to target our assistance most effectively and ensure both the best use of public funds and the most positive impact in the earthquake-stricken region.

Donations can be made as follows (please indicate in the memo field of your cheque - GHDA: Pakistan / India Earthquake Appeal):
- Online at http://www.elcic.ca/ghda/index.html
- By mail to GHDA at 302-383 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6
- Through your congregation, ensuring that your treasurer sends the money on to GHDA dated no later than October 26, 2005

A tax receipt will be issued.

When you donate through GHDA, 100% of your gift will be used as you designate, unless you donate online, in which case CanadaHelps receives 3% of each gift, to cover their administration costs.